62 Myopia Statistics

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These myopia figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.

Key Myopia Statistics

The main findings are:

  • An estimated 2.6 billion people of all ages had myopia in 2020, with an uncertainty interval of 1.97–3.43 billion (global, all ages).
  • Across 22 Chinese studies from 1998–2016, pooled myopia prevalence among ages 3–19 was 37.7% (95% CI 23.5%–52.0%) (China, ages 3–19).
  • The Eastern Mediterranean pooled childhood myopia prevalence was 5.23% (95% CI 4.0%–7.0%) (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age children).
  • In the Chinese meta-analysis, urban prevalence was 48.8% (95% CI 32.3%–65.3%) (1998–2016; China, urban children and adolescents).
  • Global high-myopia prevalence was projected to rise from 2.7% in 2000 to 9.8% in 2050 (2000–2050).
  • Low myopia was associated with 3.15-fold higher odds of retinal detachment (95% CI 1.92–5.17) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies).
  • An estimated 1.4 billion people had myopia in 2000, equivalent to 22.9% of the global population.
  • Pooled high-myopia prevalence among Chinese ages 3–19 was 3.1% (95% CI 1.2%–5.0%) (1998–2016; China, ages 3–19).
  • The Eastern Mediterranean pooled prevalence among females was 4.90% (95% CI 3.0%–6.0%) (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age females).
  • In the Chinese meta-analysis, rural prevalence was 31.9% (95% CI 20.4%–43.3%) (1998–2016; China, rural children and adolescents).
  • 123.7 million people with moderate-to-severe distance vision impairment or blindness from unaddressed refractive error in its global vision accounting (2019-era global estimates in report; global, unaddressed refractive error).
  • Moderate myopia was associated with 8.74-fold higher odds of retinal detachment (95% CI 7.28–10.50) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies).
  • An estimated 1.95 billion people had myopia in 2010, or 28.3% of the global population.
  • Chinese children younger than 7 had pooled myopia prevalence of 4.7% (95% CI 2.5%–6.9%) (1998–2016; China, under 7 years).
  • The Eastern Mediterranean pooled prevalence among males was 3.94% (95% CI 3.0%–5.0%) (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age males).

Contents

Global myopia statistics and projected prevalence through 2050

WHO estimate; uncertainty interval reported.

Modelled synthesis of published prevalence studies.

Modelled estimate.

Projection from the study model, not a contemporaneous census.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 2.578–4.217 billion and 32.3%–47.5%.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 3.145–5.128 billion and 38.1%–52.1%.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 3.620–6.056 billion and 43.4%–55.7%.

High myopia is the study’s severe refractive-error category.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 233–815 million and 3.1%–10.3%.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 298–1,082 million and 3.7%–12.2%.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 381–1,518 million and 4.6%–15.4%.

Forecast; uncertainty interval 479–2,105 million and 5.7%–19.4%.

Age-restricted estimate; credible interval reported.

Childhood and adolescent myopia statistics by age and education stage

  • Across 22 Chinese studies from 1998–2016, pooled myopia prevalence among ages 3–19 was 37.7% (95% CI 23.5%–52.0%) (China, ages 3–19). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • Pooled high-myopia prevalence among Chinese ages 3–19 was 3.1% (95% CI 1.2%–5.0%) (1998–2016; China, ages 3–19). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • Chinese children younger than 7 had pooled myopia prevalence of 4.7% (95% CI 2.5%–6.9%) (1998–2016; China, under 7 years). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • Chinese 16–18-year-olds had pooled myopia prevalence of 56.2% (95% CI 29.8%–82.5%) (1998–2016; China, ages 16–18). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • Myopia prevalence among Chinese girls was 1.29 times that of boys (95% CI 1.14–1.46) (1998–2016; China, ages 3–19). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • High-myopia odds among Chinese girls were 1.37 times those of boys (95% CI 1.05–1.78) (1998–2016; China, ages 3–19). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • A 2025 Chinese review of cycloplegic studies reported overall myopia prevalence of 30.1% across 34 studies (2020–March 2025 studies; China, children and adolescents). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • The newer Chinese review reported prevalence of 4.2% in kindergarten, 28.4% in primary school, 64.1% in junior high and 81.0% in high school (2020–March 2025 studies; China, by educational stage). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • The newer Chinese review reported a 2016 prevalence peak of 57.5% (China, children and adolescents). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • A Latin American meta-analysis estimated myopia prevalence at 8.61% among children and adolescents aged 3–20 (studies through February 2023; Latin America, ages 3–20). (Myopia Prevalence in Latin American…)
  • The Latin American study’s included prevalence estimates ranged from 0.80% to 47.36% (studies through February 2023; Latin America, ages 3–20). (Myopia Prevalence in Latin American…)
  • The Latin American pooled estimate had a 95% confidence interval of 5.22%–13.87% (studies through February 2023; Latin America, ages 3–20). (Myopia Prevalence in Latin American…)
  • Non-cycloplegic or objective assessment studies in Latin America reported 10.62% prevalence (95% CI 4.9%–21.6%) (studies through February 2023; Latin America, ages 3–20). (Myopia Prevalence in Latin American…)
  • Cycloplegic-assessment studies in Latin America reported 7.17% prevalence (95% CI 3.40%–14.50%) (studies through February 2023; Latin America, ages 3–20). (Myopia Prevalence in Latin American…)

Systematic-review pooled estimate with substantial study variation.

High-myopia subgroup pooled across included studies.

Age subgroup estimate.

Wide confidence interval reflects study heterogeneity.

Association from pooled observational studies.

Association, not causal effect.

This figure is from a newer indexed review summarized in the PubMed record and is not directly comparable with the older pooled series.

Cycloplegic-study pooled subgroup figures; education stages are not identical to age bands.

Temporal subgroup of the newer review.

Random-effects pooled estimate.

Range across heterogeneous studies, not a confidence interval.

Meta-analytic confidence interval.

Assessment subgroup; non-cycloplegic and objective methods are grouped in the source.

Assessment subgroup with wide interval.

Myopia prevalence statistics across China, Latin America and the Eastern Mediterranean

Random-effects meta-analysis with highly significant heterogeneity.

Pooled sex subgroup.

Age subgroup.

Single study location, not region-wide prevalence.

Single study estimate.

Highest reported subgroup estimate, not pooled regional prevalence.

Lowest reported subgroup estimate, not pooled regional prevalence.

Highest reported subgroup estimate.

Lowest reported subgroup estimate.

Myopia statistics by sex, urbanization and assessment method

  • In the Chinese meta-analysis, urban prevalence was 48.8% (95% CI 32.3%–65.3%) (1998–2016; China, urban children and adolescents). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • In the Chinese meta-analysis, rural prevalence was 31.9% (95% CI 20.4%–43.3%) (1998–2016; China, rural children and adolescents). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • The urban-rural difference in Chinese childhood myopia prevalence was statistically significant at P<0.001 (1998–2016; China, children and adolescents). (Prevalence and Time Trends of…)
  • Cycloplegic refraction studies in the Eastern Mediterranean found 5.95% pooled prevalence (95% CI 4.0%–8.0%) (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age children). (Systematic review and meta-analysis of…)
  • Non-cycloplegic refraction studies in the Eastern Mediterranean found 3.73% pooled prevalence (95% CI 3.0%–5.0%) (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age children). (Systematic review and meta-analysis of…)
  • The Eastern Mediterranean assessment-method difference was highly statistically significant at P<0.001 (2000–2022; Eastern Mediterranean Region, school-age children). (Systematic review and meta-analysis of…)

Urban subgroup pooled across studies.

Rural subgroup pooled across studies.

Statistical significance does not establish causation.

Assessment-method subgroup.

Assessment-method subgroup; heterogeneity was significant.

Comparison of pooled study subgroups.

Myopia progression, high-myopia and visual-impairment statistics

  • Global high-myopia prevalence was projected to rise from 2.7% in 2000 to 9.8% in 2050 (2000–2050). (Global Prevalence of Myopia and…)
  • WHO reported 123.7 million people with moderate-to-severe distance vision impairment or blindness from unaddressed refractive error in its global vision accounting (2019-era global estimates in report; global, unaddressed refractive error). (World report on vision)
  • In the complications meta-analysis, low myopia was associated with 13.57-fold higher odds of myopic macular degeneration (95% CI 6.18–29.79) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Moderate myopia was associated with 72.74-fold higher odds of myopic macular degeneration (95% CI 33.18–159.48) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • High myopia was associated with 845.08-fold higher odds of myopic macular degeneration (95% CI 230.05–3104.34) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • The review reported myopic macular degeneration prevalence ranges of 0.1%–7% in low myopia, 0.3%–10% in moderate myopia and 13%–65% in high myopia (included studies through 2019; pooled observational literature). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)

Model projection; endpoints are not direct longitudinal observations.

Includes refractive errors such as myopia and hypermetropia; not myopia-only.

Association versus emmetropia; low myopia defined as SER <−0.5 to >−3.00 D.

Moderate myopia defined as SER ≤−3.00 to >−6.00 D.

High myopia defined as SER ≤−6.00 D; very wide interval.

Ranges across studies with nonuniform definitions and age distributions.

Myopia complication and sight-loss risk statistics

  • Low myopia was associated with 3.15-fold higher odds of retinal detachment (95% CI 1.92–5.17) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Moderate myopia was associated with 8.74-fold higher odds of retinal detachment (95% CI 7.28–10.50) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • High myopia was associated with 12.62-fold higher odds of retinal detachment (95% CI 6.65–23.94) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Low myopia was associated with 1.56-fold higher odds of posterior subcapsular cataract (95% CI 1.32–1.84) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Moderate myopia was associated with 2.55-fold higher odds of posterior subcapsular cataract (95% CI 1.98–3.28) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • High myopia was associated with 4.55-fold higher odds of posterior subcapsular cataract (95% CI 2.66–7.75) (studies published before June 2019; pooled observational studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Low myopia was associated with 1.59-fold higher odds of open-angle glaucoma (95% CI 1.33–1.91) (studies published before June 2019; pooled population-based studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Moderate/high myopia was associated with 2.92-fold higher odds of open-angle glaucoma (95% CI 1.89–4.52) (studies published before June 2019; pooled population-based studies). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Among people older than 60, low myopia was associated with 1.71-fold higher odds of visual impairment (95% CI 1.07–2.74) (studies published before June 2019; pooled studies, age >60). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Among people older than 60, moderate myopia was associated with 5.54-fold higher odds of visual impairment (95% CI 3.12–9.85) (studies published before June 2019; pooled studies, age >60). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)
  • Among people older than 60, high myopia was associated with 87.63-fold higher odds of visual impairment (95% CI 34.50–222.58) (studies published before June 2019; pooled studies, age >60). (The Complications of Myopia: A…)

Low myopia category; association versus nonmyopia/emmetropia.

Moderate myopia category.

High myopia category.

Association; cataract subtype is posterior subcapsular.

Association; moderate myopia category.

Association; high myopia category.

Association; low myopia defined as greater than −3 D in this analysis.

Moderate/high categories combined in the glaucoma analysis.

Visual impairment association; age-restricted analysis.

Very wide interval; high-myopia category and age-restricted analysis.

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